FINRA 2012 Financial Capability

Financial Capability in
the United States
Report of Findings from the 2012 National Financial
Capability Study
May 2013

Financial Capability in the United States—2012 Report of National Findings

Financial Capability in the United States—2012 Report of National Findings i
Table of Contents
Letter from the FINRA Investor Education Foundation 1
Letter from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau 2
Letter from the United States Department of the Treasury 3
Introduction 5
1. Making Ends Meet 7
Satisfaction With Personal Finances 8
Indicators of Financial Stress 9
Unpaid Medical Bills 10
Financial Fragility 10
Sources of Income 11
2. Planning Ahead 13
Rainy Day Funds 13
Planning for Retirement 13
Planning for College 14
Changes in Planning Patterns 15
Investments and Financial Advisors 15
Risk Preferences 16
3. Managing Financial Products 17
Methods of Receiving Income 17
Banking 17
Methods of Making Payments 18
Home Ownership and Mortgages 19
Credit Cards 21
Student Loans 22
Non-Bank Borrowing 23
Debt 24
Credit Reports 26
4. Financial Knowledge and Decision-Making 27
Financial Literacy 27
Self-Perceptions of Financial Knowledge 29
Self-Perceptions vs. Financial Behavior 30
Financial Education 30
Conclusion 32
Background and Methodology 32
Acknowledgements 34

Financial Capability in the United States—2012 Report of National Findings ii

Financial Capability in the United States—2012 Report of National Findings 1
Letter from the FINRA Investor Education Foundation
Richard G. Ketchum
Chairman of the FINRA Investor
Education Foundation
The FINRA Investor Education Foundation is pleased to present the 2012 National
Financial Capability Study, a follow-up to our landmark 2009 study.
The Study, which again includes a state-by-state and military component, reveals
some interesting changes in key measures of financial capability since the first Study
in 2009. It also reinforces the 2009 findings that financial capability varies greatly
by socio-economic status and other demographics. However, the bottom line is that
many Americans continue to struggle to make ends meet, plan ahead and make sound
financial decisions.
That said, we are pleased to see progress in two of the areas measured in both surveys:
More respondents reported having a rainy day fund, and fewer respondents reported
difficulty in making ends meet. The improvement in Americans’ ability to make ends
meet reflects the change in the overall economic conditions in the United States from
2009 to 2012. However, many consumers continue to feel financial strains, and the
study found that a large number of Americans borrow money in potentially expensive
ways and carry too much debt.
Beyond that, the study found that financial literacy levels remain low. This finding—
along with the potentially dangerous borrowing habits—underscores the need for us to
continue to explore innovative ways to build financial capability among consumers.
The FINRA Foundation has a longstanding interest in building financial capability. We
continue to pursue new initiatives to reach consumers at the grassroots level and more
broadly distribute our educational material. This new Study has tremendous value to
the FINRA Foundation and its partners as we work to shape and enhance financial and
investor education. Equally important, it will help us evaluate and understand how
demographics, behaviors and attitudes affect financial literacy—and what we can do to
improve it.

Letter from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Richard Cordray
Director of the Consumer Financial
Protection Bureau
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau welcomes the publication of the 2012 National
Financial Capability Study report by the FINRA Investor Education Foundation. The first
National Financial Capability Study in 2009 provided insights about the financial skills,
knowledge, and habits of American consumers. The 2012 survey report tells us more
about how consumers are facing the choices that confront them in the complex financial
services marketplace.
Consumers shouldn’t have to go it alone—government must provide effective rules,
ensure widespread compliance, and engage in evenhanded enforcement. At the same
time, all of us—in both the public and private sectors—can and should work to enhance
the financial capability of everyone in America. Money decisions should support the
hopes, dreams, and life goals of individuals and families. It takes both a financially
capable populace and a well-policed marketplace to achieve that end.
We all have a part to play in building a nation where every consumer is financially
capable. We need to sustain a national conversation about money, not just in the financial
marketplace, but in families, schools and workplaces. Parents can talk to children about
money and how to make money choices. Schools can teach key financial concepts
and decision-making skills. Public and private employers can invest in a financially fit
workplace—with benefits to both employees and employers—as we are doing at the
CFPB.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s mission is to help consumer financial
markets work by making rules more effective, by consistently and fairly enforcing those
rules, and by empowering consumers to take more control over their economic lives. The
CFPB’s financial education agenda is focused on providing consumers with practical skills,
tools and information to support financial decision-making. These tools include online
resources like Ask CFPB, which provides over 900 questions and answers about financial
products and services at www.consumerfinance.gov/askCFPB. We are also engaged in
research and other work to identify, highlight and spread effective approaches to financial
education. Through these activities, we aim to move the needle on the concerns raised by
the results of the National Financial Capability Survey.
Improving consumers’ financial capability is a priority for the Bureau. The FINRA
Investor Education Foundation’s 2012 National Financial Capability Study report marks an
important milestone in our shared work to enhance the readiness and ability of American
consumers to navigate the financial marketplace. We look forward to our continued
work with the FINRA Investor Education Foundation—and all of you—to build on this
important research to empower consumers and help them achieve their personal financial
goals.

Letter from the United States Department of the Treasury
Cyrus Amir-Mokri
Assistant Secretary for Financial
Institutions, U.S. Department of
the Treasury
The Department of the Treasury commends the FINRA Investor Education Foundation
(Foundation) for once again conducting its National Financial Capability Study (NFCS),
providing important insights into the financial practices and attitudes of Americans
across the country. We are pleased to have consulted with the Foundation, as we did
when the project was launched in 2009.
The 2012 state-by-state survey suggests that while families are still facing financial
challenges—42% of Americans have more debt than they would like—an increasing
number of households are taking steps to build savings and prepare for unexpected
events. Forty percent of Americans are building emergency savings, up 5% from three
years ago. Nevertheless, the research shows that more effort is needed to help families
manage their debt and plan for the future.
The study’s findings also point to the gap between the challenges Americans face,
especially young Americans, in managing their finances and their demonstrated
knowledge and confidence in financial matters. For example, more than one-third of
young adults report having student loans, of which more than half are concerned that
they will not be able to pay off those loans.
One important step in bridging this gap is helping young people early in their lives gain
the knowledge and skills to make sound financial decisions. Yet, less than one-third of
Americans indicated that they have had the opportunity to have financial education.
Americans themselves realize that this problem needs to be addressed, with an
overwhelming 89% indicating that financial education should be taught in schools.
Toward this end, the Department of the Treasury is working with other federal
agencies through the Financial Literacy and Education Commission, to focus our
combined efforts on building the financial knowledge and skills of young people. But
our efforts alone are not enough. We hope that state and local policymakers, educators
and private-sector service providers can utilize the NFCS data to provide American
consumers with the financial education and access to appropriate financial products
and services that they need. With greater financial capability, we believe more
Americans will have the tools they need to turn their hard work into a decent living for
their families and a bright future for their children.

Introduction
Over the past five to six years, the financial resilience of the American people has been tested to a degree
that had not been seen for many decades. A substantial decline in residential real estate prices, a roughly 50%
collapse in the stock market and unemployment rates at 25-year highs combined to erode personal balance
sheets, straining the abilities of many to meet their short-term obligations and plan for long-term goals. While
the recession ended in 2009, growth has been sluggish since then and unemployment remains stubbornly high.
And while the stock market has rebounded almost completely from its low point, investors who liquidated
riskier assets during the crash did not necessarily recoup their losses. The real estate market is also showing
signs of recovery, but many homeowners remain overleveraged.
Managing one’s finances is a complex set of challenges in the best of times, requiring a combination of skills,
judgment and resources. In today’s volatile economic environment, the challenges are especially acute and
the downside risks are great. Individuals and families must grapple with a bewildering variety of financial
decisions, ranging from choosing a bank and managing various kinds of debt to planning for retirement and
purchasing insurance. Even the simplest of these decisions requires at least some basic financial knowledge
and competency, while the more complicated decisions are challenging even for experts.
In 2009, the FINRA Investor Education Foundation commissioned the National Financial Capability Study—the
first of its kind conducted in the United States—to assess and establish a baseline measure of the financial
capability of American adults. The 2012 Study—which was developed in consultation with the U.S. Department
of the Treasury, other federal agencies and the President’s Advisory Council on Financial Capability—aims to
update key measures from the 2009 Study and to deepen exploration of topics that are highly relevant today,
including, for example, student loans and medical debt. Financial capability cannot be measured simply by
looking at one indicator, such as demonstrated knowledge of specific terms or concepts. Instead, financial
capability encompasses multiple aspects of behavior relating to how individuals manage their resources and
how they make financial decisions (including the factors they consider and the skill sets they use). It is a multi-
dimensional concept that requires looking at individual behavior from various angles.
Financial Capability in the United States – 2009 to 2012
The 2012 National Financial Capability Study (NFCS) reveals some interesting changes in key measures
of financial capability over the three-year period since the baseline Study was completed, but it also
reinforces the original finding that financial capability varies greatly by socio-economic status and other
demographics, and that many Americans struggle to make ends meet, plan ahead and make savvy
financial decisions.
00 Managing one’s finances is a complex set of challenges
in the best of times, requiring a combination of skills,
judgment and resources. In today’s volatile economic
environment, the challenges are especially acute and
the downside risks are great.

Drawing on the rich and complex data from the 2012 and 2009 NFCS State-by-State Surveys, each of which
were nationwide online surveys of over 25,000 American adults1
, this report focuses on the following four
key components of financial capability:
1. Making Ends Meet. Indications of some improvement in Americans’ ability to make ends meet reflect
the change in overall economic conditions in the U.S. from 2009 to 2012.
2. Planning Ahead. While the percentage of Americans with “rainy day” funds for unanticipated financial
emergencies has increased relative to 2009, the majority still have not set aside emergency funds, and
do not plan for predictable life events, such as their children’s college education or their own retirement.
3. Managing Financial Products. Americans continue to borrow in potentially expensive ways. More than
two in five credit card holders engage in costly behaviors such as paying the minimum, paying late fees,
paying over-the-limit fees or using cash advances from their credit cards. Nearly a third of Americans
report using non-bank borrowing methods (such as payday loans, advances on tax refunds or pawn
shops). Forty-two percent of Americans feel they have too much debt.
4. Financial Knowledge and Decision-Making. While roughly three quarters of Americans have positive
perceptions of their own financial knowledge and math skills, only 14% are able to answer
all five financial literacy quiz questions correctly.
In general, measures of financial capability are much lower among younger Americans, those with household
incomes below $25,000 per year, and those with no post-secondary educational experience. African-Americans
and Hispanics, who are disproportionately represented among these demographic segments, are also more
likely to be vulnerable. Additionally, women tend to have somewhat lower levels of financial capability than
men.
00 In general, measures of financial capability are
much lower among younger Americans, those with
household incomes below $25,000 per year and those
with no post-secondary educational experience.
1. Selected findings are also presented for sub-samples (e.g., by age, gender, ethnicity, etc.). In all such cases, each sub-sample consists of at
least 200 respondents or more.

1. Making Ends Meet
The ability to make ends meet is a central component of financial capability, encompassing the extent to which
people balance monthly income and expenses, and how they deal with everyday financial matters. Findings
from the National Financial Capability Study suggest that Americans’ ability to make ends meet is at least
partly influenced by general economic conditions. During the year directly prior to the fielding of the 2009
NFCS, the U.S. economy had been experiencing a severe recession. By contrast, during the year prior to the
fielding of the 2012 wave, the U.S. economy was growing modestly, as the figure below shows.
12 months prior to 2009 NFCS 12 months prior to 2012 NFCS
4.1%
2.0%
1.3% 1.3%
-0.3%
-3.7%
-5.3%
-8.9%
Q3 2008 Q4 2008 Q1 2009 Q2 2009 Q3 2011 Q4 2011 Q1 2012 Q2 2012
Percentage change in Gross Domestic Product2
(seasonally adjusted annual rates)
While the 2009 NFCS interviews were being conducted in June through October 2009, the seasonally adjusted
national unemployment rate rose from 9.5% to 10.0%, which were levels that had not been experienced in
the U.S. in over 25 years. From July through October 2012, when the most recent NFCS was in the field, the
unemployment rate declined from 8.2% to 7.9%, still high by historical standards, but considerably lower than it
had been three years earlier.3
Reflecting the overall economic climate in the United States, results from the 2012 NFCS show some
indications of improvement with regard to Americans’ ability to make ends meet. In 2009, 36% of respondents
reported no difficulty in covering their monthly expenses and bills. This percentage has increased to 40% in
2012. Conversely, while 40% of respondents in 2009 indicated they had experienced a large unexpected income
drop in the past year, 29% of respondents in 2012 report that they have. Younger respondents are more likely
than older respondents to have experienced a drop in income (34% of 18-34 year olds, compared to 22% of
those 55 and up), consistent with the higher levels of unemployment in that age cohort (11% among 18-34
year olds and 6% among those 55 and up4
).
Just over two-fifths of respondents (41%) report spending less than their income, 36% spend about equal
to their income, and 19% spend more than their income. These percentages have not shifted meaningfully from
2009.
2. Source: U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Economic Analysis
3. Source: U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics
4. Source: U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics

Not surprisingly, income and education are correlated with ability to make ends meet. Those with higher
income and education levels are more likely than those with lower income and education levels to be able
to save and to have no difficulty covering their monthly expenses.
Income
Total <$25K
$25-
75K
$75K+
HS or
less
Some
college
College
or more
Spend less than income 41% 32% 38% 54% 36% 40% 49%
Find it not at all difficult covering
expenses & paying bills
40% 19% 38% 64% 31% 40% 53%
Satisfaction With Personal Finances
Mirroring the improvement in Americans’ ability to make ends meet, satisfaction with one’s personal finances
has also increased. Nearly a quarter of respondents (24%) report being very satisfied with their current personal
financial condition (8 to 10 on a 10-point scale), up from 16% in 2009. Those who have no difficulty making
ends meet are much more likely to be satisfied with their personal finances than those who find it very difficult
to make ends meet (44% vs. 8%). Similarly, respondents who are able to save are more likely to be satisfied than
those who spend more than their income (33% vs. 14%).
Satisfaction with financial condition shows an interesting pattern by age, where respondents 55 and older are
the most satisfied, those 35-54 are the least satisfied, and the youngest respondents fall between these two
groups. This may be due to the presence of financially dependent children, as over half of respondents aged
35-54 have children for whom they are financially responsible, compared to only 16% of those 55 and up.
56%
45%
33%
23%
18% 16%
18-34 35-54 55+
Have financially dependent
children
Are satisfied with current
personal financial condition
Satisfaction with personal finance
How satisfied are you with your current personal financial condition?
Mirroring the improvement in Americans’ability to
make ends meet, satisfaction with one’s personal
finances has also increased. Nearly a quarter of
respondents report being very satisfied with their
current personal financial condition up from 16% in 2009.
Education
42%
Neutral
8-10 2% Don’t know/
No answer
31%
Not satisfied
24%
Satisfied
1-3
4-7

Indicators of Financial Stress
The study included several indicators of stress related to making ends meet. For example, 14% of non-retired
respondents report having taken a loan from their retirement account in the past year, and 10% a hardship
withdrawal. Twenty-one percent of mortgage holders have been late with a mortgage payment at least
once in the past two years (8% only once, and 13% more than once). Incidence of late mortgage payments is
particularly high among African-American homeowners with mortgages, with 39% having been late at least
once (13% once, and 27% more than once).
Younger Americans, especially those 34 and under, are more likely to show these signs of financial stress.
For example, among 18-34 year olds who have retirement accounts, 19% have taken a hardship withdrawal
in the past year, a rate that is more than double that of older respondents.
Age
Total 18-34 35-54 55+
Have taken a loan from their retirement
account
14% 22% 14% 7%
Have taken a hardship withdrawal from
their retirement account
10% 19% 8% 5%
Have been late with mortgage payments
Once 8% 13% 8% 4%
More than once 13% 16% 15% 8%
Among respondents with checking accounts, more than one in five occasionally overdraw their checking
accounts (22%), while 77% do not.5
Incidence of overdrawing has decreased slightly from 26% in 2009. Younger
respondents are more likely to overdraw their checking accounts. Respondents with incomes of $75K or more
and White and Asian respondents are less likely to overdraw.
Age
Total 18-34 35-54 55+ <$25K
$25-
75K
$75K+ White
Afr.-
Amer.
Hisp. Asian Other6
Overdraw
checking
account
22% 28% 25% 14% 27% 23% 16% 19% 31% 27% 18% 29%
Overdrawing checking accounts appears to be a symptom of difficulty making ends meet. Among those who
overdraw their checking accounts, nearly a third (31%) report spending more than they earn, compared to 14%
of those who do not overdraw. Similarly, 31% of Americans who overdraw their checking accounts feel it is very
difficult to cover all their monthly bills, while only 9% of those who do not overdraw have the same difficulty.
Finally, those who overdraw their checking accounts are less likely to be satisfied with their personal finances
than those who do not (18% vs. 28%, respectively).
00 The study included several indicators of stress related
to making ends meet. For example, 14% of non-
retired respondents report having taken a loan from
their retirement account in the past year, and 10% a
hardship withdrawal.
5. Percentages do not add up to 100 because of missing and “don’t know” responses.
6. Includes non-Hispanic respondents who self-identified as Native American or Alaska Native, other, or two or more ethnicities.
Income Ethnicity

Unpaid Medical Bills
More than a quarter of respondents (26%) report having unpaid bills from a healthcare or medical service
provider that are past due. Among those without health insurance, the number rises to 38%.
Although it may seem counterintuitive, younger respondents are more likely than older respondents to have
unpaid medical bills. This is likely due to the lower incidence of health insurance among younger Americans
and the ubiquity of Medicare among those 65 and older. Women are more likely than men to have medical
debt, though they are not less likely to be insured.
Age
Total Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+
Have unpaid medical bills 26% 23% 28% 31% 30% 17%
Have health insurance 78% 77% 79% 68% 76% 89%
Respondents with unpaid medical bills are more likely than those without to report spending more than their
income (29% vs. 15%, respectively), and to find it “very difficult” to cover their expenses and bills each month
(32% vs. 10%, respectively). They are also less likely to be satisfied with their personal finances (13% vs. 29%
among those who have no medical debt).
Financial Fragility
Another indicator of difficulty making ends meet is financial fragility, specifically the lack of liquidity to deal
with an unexpected challenge (e.g., a major car or housing repair). Liquidity could arise from tapping into
savings, selling valuables or borrowing from family members or friends.
When asked if they would be able to come up with $2,000 if an unexpected need arose in the next month,
nearly two in five respondents (39%) said they probably or certainly could not.
How confident are you that you could come up with $2,000 if an unexpected need arose
within the next month?
Total
I am certain I could come up with the full $2,000 35%
I could probably come up with $2,000 21%
I could probably not come up with $2,000 15%
I am certain I could not come up with $2,000 25%
00 Another indicator of difficulty making ends meet is
financial fragility, specifically the lack of liquidity to
deal with an unexpected challenge (e.g., a major car or
housing repair). Forty percent of respondents indicated
they would have a difficult time coming up with
$2,000 in 30 days.
Gender

While demographic differences in financial fragility are quite striking, they are not at all surprising. Women,
younger respondents, those with lower income and education levels, and African-American and Hispanic
respondents are more likely to have difficulty handling a short-term unexpected expense.
Probably/certainly could not come up with $2,000
Total 39%
Gender
Male 34%
Female 44%
18-34 49%
Age 35-54 42%
55+ 27%
<$25K 68%
Income $25-75K 39%
$75K+ 13%
HS or less 51%
Education Some college 38%
College or more 23%
White 36%
African-American 50%
Ethnicity Hispanic 47%
Asian 24%
Other 49%
Sources of Income
The 2012 NFCS includes additional detail on the types of income respondents receive. The majority of American
adults (63%) receive income from employment (i.e., salaries, wages, freelance pay or tips). Just under a quarter
(24%) say they receive Social Security retirement benefits.
Types of income received over the past 12 months Total
Salaries, wages, freelance pay or tips 63%
Social Security retirement benefits 24%
Other federal or state benefits (e.g., unemployment, disability, SSI, TANF) 19%
Payments from a pension plan 19%
Money from family members who do not live in your household 19%
Income from a business 14%
Withdrawals from retirement accounts (e.g., 401(k), IRA, Keogh) 13%
Employment income is correlated with education level, such that 77% of those with college degrees or higher
receive income from employment, compared to 65% of those with some college, and only 50% of those with
high school or less.

Respondents who receive retirement income (pension plans, Social Security or withdrawals from retirement
accounts) are the most likely to have no difficulty making ends meet, followed by those who receive business
or employment income. In comparison, those who receive income from federal or state benefits or from family
members are considerably less likely to say they have no difficulty making ends meet.
Among respondents who receive…
% with no difficulty
making ends meet
Payments from a pension plan 58%
Social Security retirement benefits 52%
Withdrawals from retirement accounts (e.g., 401(k), IRA, Keogh) 47%
Income from a business 46%
Salaries, wages, freelance pay or tips 43%
Other federal or state benefits (e.g., unemployment, disability, SSI, TANF) 26%
Money from family members who do not live in your household 25%
Close to half (45%) of those receiving federal or state benefits (not including Social Security retirement
benefits) report having experienced an unexpected drop in income in the past year, compared to only about
a quarter (26%) of those not receiving such government benefits. The percentage of respondents who receive
government benefits is fairly consistent across ethnicities, except for Asian-Americans who are much less likely
to receive such benefits.
Ethnicity
Total White
African-
American
Hispanic Asian Other
Receive non-retirement
government benefits
19% 19% 24% 20% 11% 26%
The survey reveals that younger Americans are much more likely to be receiving money from family members
than older Americans. Nearly a third (32%) of respondents 18-34 receive financial help from family members,
compared to only 8% of those 55 and up.
Age
Total 18-34 35-54 55+
Receive money from
family members who do
not live in your household
19% 32% 17% 8%

2. Planning Ahead
Many Americans experience certain predictable life events that require planning, including financing one’s
retirement and funding the cost of a child’s post-secondary school education. Additionally, because the future
is inherently uncertain, individuals and families also need to make provisions to buffer themselves against
financial emergencies or shocks. Being able to weather shocks not only contributes to financial stability at
the individual and family level, but also increases the stability of the economy as a whole.
Rainy Day Funds
Most Americans lack emergency savings or “rainy day” funds. Only 40% of respondents say they have set aside
funds sufficient to cover expenses for three months in case of sickness, job loss, economic downturn or other
emergency, while over half (56%) have not. As a result, many individuals and families would not be able to
draw on personal financial resources if they were faced with an economic shock.
Older respondents (55 and up) and those with incomes of $75K or more are much more likely to have an
emergency fund.
Age Income
Total 18-34 35-54 55+ <$25K $25-75K $75K+
Have set aside three months’
worth of emergency funds
40% 33% 33% 53% 18% 37% 64%
Planning for Retirement
While individuals increasingly have to take responsibility for their financial security after retirement,
the majority of Americans do not appear to have done any retirement planning. Thirty-seven percent of
respondents have tried to figure out how much they need to save for retirement, while 59% have not.
The act of planning for retirement has been shown to be a strong positive indicator of retirement wealth.7
Recognizing that many Americans are not familiar with the technical terms and distinctions used to describe
various types of retirement plans, the survey employed a few “plain language” questions to assess whether
respondents have a retirement plan through an employer, and if so, which type (specifically, a defined benefit
plan or a defined contribution plan, such as a 401(k)). In addition, the survey asked whether individuals have
retirement accounts they set up on their own, such as an Individual Retirement Account (IRA), Keogh, SEP
or other type of retirement account. Just over half of all non-retired respondents (54%) have some kind of
retirement account, either employer-based (e.g., 401(k), pension) or independent (e.g., IRA).
7. Annamaria Lusardi, “Information, Expectations, and Savings for Retirement,” in Henry Aaron, ed., Behavioral Dimensions of Retirement
Economics (Washington, DC: Brookings Institution Press and Russell Sage Foundation, 1999), 81-115.
Have you set aside emergency or rainy day funds that would cover your expenses for three months?
Most Americans lack emergency savings or
“rainy day”funds. As a result, many individuals
and families would not be able to draw on
personal financial resources if they were
faced with an economic shock.
4% Don’t know/
No answer
40%
Have set
aside funds56%
Have not set
aside funds

Respondents with lower income levels are much less likely to be prepared for retirement than those with
higher incomes. Only 18% of those with incomes under $25K have tried to plan for retirement, compared
to 58% of those with $75K or more income. Similarly, likelihood to have a retirement account increases
dramatically with income, such that only a small minority of respondents with less than $25K income have a
retirement account (18%), while the vast majority of respondents with $75K or more income have one (84%).
Have tried to figure out retirement Have retirement account
savings needs (employer-based or independent)

37%

18%

35%

58%

54%

18%

58%
84%

Total <$25K $25-75K $75K+ Total <$25K $25-75K $75K+
Preparing for retirement
Planning for College
It has been widely reported that, over the past ten years, tuition and fees at four-year public colleges and
universities have increased more rapidly than they did during the previous two decades, rising by an average
of more than 5% each year (adjusted for inflation)8
. Even if this trend is slowed, an average American family
with children can expect to allocate a sizable share of their resources to paying college tuition. Among those
with financially dependent children, just over a third (34%) are setting aside money for their children’s college
education. Asians are more likely than other ethnic groups to be setting aside money for college.
Ethnicity
Total White
African-
American
Hispanic Asian Other
Are setting aside money
for children’s college
34% 32% 34% 37% 51% 27%
00 Thirty-seven percent of respondents have tried to
figure out how much they need to save for retirement,
while 59% have not.
8. Source: College Board (Average Annual Percentage Increases in Inflation-Adjusted Published Prices by Decade, 1982-83 to 2012-13)
Respondents with
financially dependent
children who…


5%
3%
Have Have
retirement life
35% g 40% 31% g 34% 0% account Insurance

Have Are saving Tried to plan 57% g 54% 58% g 53%
emergency for college for retirement
funds 37% g 37%
-3%
-5%
Changes in Planning Patterns
When compared to 2009 data, an interesting pattern emerges in measures of planning ahead. The percentage
of respondents who have three months’ worth of emergency funds has increased 5% relative to 2009.
However, when planning for an event that is further out in the future, i.e., saving for college, the increase from
2009 to 2012 is smaller (3%). Looking at an even longer-term measure, retirement planning, we see that the
percentage of those who have tried to figure out their retirement savings needs has not changed from 2009,
and the percentage of those who have a retirement account has slipped by 3%. Finally, the largest decrement in
planning ahead occurs for what might be considered the “ultimate” long-term: the percentage of respondents
with life insurance has decreased by 5% relative to 2009. Thus it appears that while the recent economic crisis
may have helped to motivate Americans positively in terms of short-range financial planning, long-range
planning seems to have been negatively impacted, perhaps because financial resources are being diverted from
long-term goals to more immediate needs.
Change from 2009 to 2012 in percentage of respondents who…
Investments and Financial Advisors
One of the most concrete indicators of planning ahead is investing, both in tax-deferred retirement accounts
and in non-retirement accounts. Forty-one percent of non-retired respondents have a self-directed retirement
plan (such as a 401(k) from an employer or an IRA they have set up themselves), down slightly from 44%
in 2009. Among those with self-directed plans, over three quarters (77%) report that they make regular
contributions.
2009 2012
Have self-directed retirement plan (e.g., 401(k), IRA) 44% 41%
Make regular contributions to self-directed retirement plan 75% 77%
Short-term Long-term
(3 months) (lifespan)

More than a third of respondents (35%) have investments outside of retirement accounts, little changed from
2009 (36%). Not surprisingly, those with higher incomes are much more likely than those with lower incomes to
have non-retirement investments.
Income
Total <$25K $25-75K $75K+
Have non-retirement investments 35% 11% 30% 60%
Another indicator of financial planning is the decision to consult a financial professional for advice. Overall,
50% of respondents have consulted a financial professional over the past 5 years. The most frequent topics
of consultation are insurance and savings/investments.
Have consulted a financial professional about: Total
Insurance of any type 30%
Savings or investments 29%
Taking out a mortgage or a loan 20%
Tax planning 18%
Debt counseling 9%
Have consulted a financial professional about any of the above 50%
Risk Preferences
An important determinant of how people choose to invest their private and retirement wealth is their attitude
towards financial risk. Americans tend to report being risk averse in their financial investments, with over
a third (35%) not willing to take risks, and only 17% who say they are willing. However, risk tolerance has
increased somewhat relative to 2009, when 12% of respondents reported being willing to take risks. Men
are much more likely than women to say they are willing to take risks in financial investments (24% vs. 11%
respectively).
When thinking of your financial investments, how willing are you to take risks?
An important determinant of how people
choose to invest their private and retirement
wealth is their attitude towards financial risk.
Risk tolerance has increased somewhat relative
to 2009, when 12% of respondents reported
being willing to take risks. 3% Don’t know/
No answer
35%
Not willing
44%
Neutral
17%
Willing8-10
4-7
1-3

3. Managing Financial Products
The third component of financial capability encompasses how money inflows and outflows are managed
(i.e., methods of receiving income and payment methods), where money is stored (i.e., banking) and how
money is borrowed (i.e., debt and other related topics). The 2012 study adds more detail on debt than was
available in the 2009 study.
Methods of Receiving Income
When asked how they typically receive income, direct deposit was the most frequently selected answer by a
wide margin. Respondents with higher incomes are more likely to be receiving direct deposits than those with
lower incomes. Conversely, respondents with lower incomes are more likely to be receiving cash and prepaid
debit cards.
Income
Total <$25K $25-75K $75K+
Direct deposit to a checking account
or savings account
73% 54% 75% 85%
Checks (i.e., paper checks that need
to be deposited or cashed)
41% 34% 42% 45%
Cash 22% 26% 22% 18%
Prepaid debit cards (e.g., a payroll
card from an employer, or alimony or
unemployment payments that you
receive on a card)
10% 14% 10% 7%
Banking
Only a small minority of survey respondents are unbanked (7%), defined as having neither a checking account
nor a savings account. The unbanked are typically underrepresented in survey research, partly due to lower
levels of access to landline phone lines and the Internet. A 2011 FDIC study conducted as part of the U.S.
Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey (CPS) estimated that 8.2% of American households are unbanked.9
Younger respondents and those with less than $25K income are more likely to be unbanked.
Age Income
Total 18-34 35-54 55+ <$25K $25-75K $75K+
Unbanked (neither checking
nor savings)
7% 12% 7% 2% 19% 4% 1%
Over half of the unbanked (54%) are formerly banked, that is, they used to have a bank account but no longer
do. The formerly banked are more likely than the “never banked” to have some college education, and to be
between the ages of 35 to 54.
9. Source: 2011 FDIC National Survey of Unbanked and Underbanked Households

Among those who typically receive income in the form of paper checks, 16% cash checks at a check cashing
store. There are stark demographic differences in usage of check cashing stores. Younger respondents,
particularly those 18-34, are much more likely to use a check cashing store, as are those with less than $25K
income, and African-American and Hispanic respondents.
Age
Total 18-34 35-54 55+ <$25K
$25-
75K
$75K+ White
Afr.-
Amer.
Hisp. Asian Other
Use check
cashing
store
16% 31% 14% 4% 25% 16% 11% 11% 29% 30% 20% 20%
Usage of check cashing stores is not limited to unbanked Americans. Among respondents who cash checks at a
check cashing store, 15% are unbanked, but the vast majority (84%) are banked.10
Methods of Making Payments
While a large majority of respondents make payments using cash at least sometimes (88%), debit cards rank
first in terms of frequent usage. Almost half of Americans use debit cards frequently (46%), and nearly three
quarters use them at least sometimes (72%). Online payments and credit cards also rival cash in terms of
frequent usage (35%, 30% and 33%, respectively). Only a minority of respondents use pre-paid debit cards or
money orders, and very few have adopted mobile payments.
2% 5% 7%
10. Percentages do not add up to 100 because of missing and “don’t know” responses.
How often do you use each of the following methods to make payments
(e.g., for shopping, for paying bills or for any other purposes)?
 Frequently
 Sometimes
Income EthnicityAmong
respondents
who recieve
income as
checks
Debit cards tied to
46% 26% 72%
a bank account
Online payments directly
35% 33% 68% from your bank account
Cash 33% 55% 88%
Credit Cards 30% 35% 65%
Paper checks 15% 53% 69%
Pre-paid debit cards 6% 17% 22%
Money orders 5% 20% 25%
Tapping/waving your mobile
phone over a sensor at checkout
Note: Percentages may not add up due to rounding.

There are substantial demographic differences in usage of various payment methods. Debit cards and cash are
more likely to be used by younger than older respondents. Online payments, credit cards and paper checks are
more likely to be used by older respondents. Cash is more likely to be used by lower income respondents, while
online payments are more likely to be used by higher income respondents. Credit card usage, in particular,
shows a marked income trend where only 14% of those with less than $25K income frequently use credit cards,
compared to nearly half (49%) of those with incomes of $75K and above. In contrast, debit card usage does not
exhibit the same income trend.
Age Income
Percent frequently use Total 18-34 35-54 55+ <$25K $25-75K $75K+
Debit cards tied to a bank
account
46% 49% 49% 39% 41% 51% 43%
Online payments directly
from your bank account
35% 27% 35% 42% 21% 35% 47%
Cash 33% 44% 32% 24% 45% 31% 26%
Credit cards 30% 26% 26% 38% 14% 28% 49%
Paper checks 15% 11% 13% 21% 12% 16% 16%
Pre-paid debit cards 6% 10% 6% 2% 9% 5% 4%
Money orders 5% 8% 5% 3% 9% 4% 3%
Tapping/waving your mobile
phone over a sensor at
checkout
2% 4% 1% 0% 1% 2% 2%
Home Ownership and Mortgages
Many Americans borrow money in order to purchase a home. Nearly three-fifths of respondents surveyed are
homeowners (58%), consistent with findings from 2009. Among homeowners, almost two-thirds (65%) have
a mortgage or home equity loan. This percentage has decreased considerably from 71% in 2009, reflecting the
sharp contraction in mortgage lending in the wake of the housing market collapse.
Home ownership varies greatly among demographic groups. Younger respondents, those with lower incomes,
and African-American and Hispanic respondents are less likely to own a home.
Age
Total 18-34 35-54 55+ <$25K
$25-
75K
$75K+ White
Afr.-
Amer.
Hisp. Asian Other
Home
ownership
58% 35% 60% 77% 28% 59% 83% 64% 42% 44% 56% 46%
Income Ethnicity


29%
24% 23% 24%

16% 16% 17%
11%
0% 1-10% 11-20% 21%+
Because self-reported home values are often inaccurate, making it difficult to calculate the exact amount of
equity respondents have in their homes, the 2012 survey used a simple measure of home equity that asked
participants “Do you currently owe more on your home than you think you could sell it for today?” Responding
to this question, 14% of homeowners report being “underwater” (i.e., owe more on their home than they could
sell it for).
Being underwater shows a strong correlation with the age of the homeowner. One quarter of homeowners
aged 18-34 are underwater, compared to only 8% of those 55 and older. Interestingly, income differences are
much less pronounced, suggesting that the bursting of the housing bubble affected all tiers of the market. By
ethnic group, Hispanic and African-American homeowners are the most likely to be underwater.
Age
Total 18-34 35-54 55+ <$25K
$25-
75K
$75K+ White
Afr.-
Amer.
Hisp. Asian Other
Homeowners
“underwater”
14% 25% 18% 8% 12% 16% 14% 12% 20% 24% 18% 12%
The findings provide clear evidence that the high housing prices and lower downpayment requirements of
the mid 2000s contributed to the problem of underwater homeownership. Respondents whose homes are
underwater are more likely to have purchased between 2003 and 2009 than those whose homes are not
underwater (49% vs. 26%, respectively). They are also more likely to have made downpayments of 10% or less
(44% of underwater respondents vs. 29% of non-underwater respondents).
Relative to 2009, the number of zero percent downpayments has decreased by 5%, while the number of
respondents who put down more than 20% has increased by 5%.
The percentage of respondents who report having been involved in a foreclosure process on their home in the
past two years has increased slightly from 3.0% in 2009 to 3.7% in 2012.
Approximately what percentage of the purchase price was your downpayment?
(among homeowners who have purchased within the past 5 years)
 2009
 2012
Income Ethnicity

Credit Cards
A common way in which many Americans borrow is through the use of credit cards. A large majority of
Americans (71%) have at least one credit card, and over a quarter (26%) report having four or more cards.
The percentage of respondents saying they always paid their credit cards in full has increased from 41%
in 2009 to 49% in 2012. However, nearly three out of five credit card holders (59%) engage in at least one
behavior that results in either interest or fees, and over a third (35%) engage in two or more such behaviors.
In the past year… 2009 2012
I always paid my credit cards in full 41% 49%
In some months, I carried over a balance and was charged interest 56% 49%
In some months, I paid the minimum payment only 40% 34%
In some months, I was charged a late fee for late payment 26% 16%
In some months, I was charged an over the limit fee for exceeding my credit line 15% 8%
In some months, I used the cards for a cash advance 13% 11%
Considering the subset of behaviors that are likely to generate sizeable interest or fees (paying the minimum
payment, paying late fees, paying over the limit fees, or using the card for cash advances), we find that 41% of
credit card holders engage in at least one of these expensive practices. Younger respondents, those with lower
incomes and African-American respondents are particularly likely to utilize costly credit card borrowing methods.
Engage in expensive credit card behaviors
Total 41%
18-34 52%
Age 35-54 46%
55+ 28%
<$25K 53%
Income $25-75K 45%
$75K+ 30%
White 36%
Asian 31%
Other 48%
HS or less 45%
College or more 34%
00 Nearly three out of five credit card holders (59%)
engage in at least one behavior that results in either
interest or fees and over a third (35%) engage in two
or more such behaviors.

The majority of respondents (61%) report that they did not compare information about different cards from
more than one company when obtaining their credit cards. This percentage has not changed substantially from
2009 (62%). Those with high school or less education are more likely than those with college or more to report
that they did not shop around for credit cards (65% vs. 57%, respectively).
Student Loans
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s “Quarterly Report on Household Debt and Credit” shows that while the
NFCS was being conducted in the third quarter of 2012, student loan debt totaled $956 billion, up 4.6% from
the previous quarter. This was greater than the total for auto loans ($768 billion) or credit cards ($674 billion).
One-fifth of American adults in the 2012 NFCS report that they currently have student loans. Not surprisingly,
student loan debt is highly correlated with age. While more than a third of respondents 18-34 have student
loans (36%), only 6% of those 55 and older do.
Age
Total 18-34 35-54 55+
Have student loans 20% 36% 19% 6%
Among those with student loans, over half (54%) are concerned that they will not be able to pay off their loans.
5% Don’t know/No answer
Are you concerned that you might not be able to pay off your student loans?
(among respondents with student loans)
41% No
54% Yes
Do you currently have any student loans?
One-fifth of American adults in the
2012 NFCS report that they currently
have student loans. Not surprisingly,
student loan debt is highly correlated
with age.
1% Don’t know/No answer
79% No 20% Yes

Non-Bank Borrowing
A sizable share of Americans engage in alternative forms of borrowing, such as taking out an auto title loan
or a payday loan, getting an advance on a tax refund, using a pawn shop or using a rent-to-own store. These
borrowing methods may be likely to charge higher interest rates than those charged by banks, credit unions or
credit card companies. Moreover, as widely reported in financial literacy literature, use of these products often
indicates individuals have poor credit histories, lack of access to more traditional sources of credit or both.
Nearly a third of Americans (30%) have used at least one alternative borrowing method within the past five
years, and 14% have used two or more. Among the five types of alternative borrowing measured in the survey,
pawn shops are the most commonly used.
Non-bank borrowing methods used at least once in
the past five years11 Total Banked Unbanked
Pawn shop 18% 16% 46%
Short term “payday” loan 12% 12% 17%
Rent-to-own store 10% 9% 22%
Auto title loan 9% 8% 12%
Tax refund advance 8% 7% 15%
Used one or more 30% 28% 58%
Usage of non-bank borrowing methods is highest among 18-34 year olds, those with less than $25K income,
African-American and Hispanic respondents, and those with high school or less than high school education.
Used one or more non-bank borrowing method
Total 30%
18-34 43%
Age 35-54 32%
55+ 15%
<$25K 42%
Income $25-75K 31%
$75K+ 16%
White 25%
Asian 20%
Other 41%
HS or less 36%
College or more 20%
11. Direct comparisons to 2009 NFCS data are not possible because these questions were asked differently.
00 Nearly a third of Americans have used at least one
non-bank borrowing method within the past five
years, and 14% have used two or more.

Debt
Looking across the total population of American adults, we see that various types of debt are fairly common,
ranging from nearly two-fifths with home debt (i.e., mortgage or home equity loan) to one-fifth with student
loans. Four out of five Americans have at least one of the six types of debt measured in this study, and over a
quarter (28%) have three or more types of debt.
Percent of American adults
Have mortgage or home equity loan 37%
Carry credit card balance12
35%
Have auto loan 31%
Use non-bank borrowing13
30%
Have unpaid medical bills 26%
Have student loan 20%
1 or more types of debt 80%
As of the third quarter of 2012 when the NFCS was being conducted, total household debt in the U.S. had
decreased by more than $1 trillion from its peak of $12.675 trillion in the third quarter of 2008.14
Still, more
than two out of five Americans (42%) in the NFCS feel that they have too much debt (5 to 7 on a 7-point scale).
39% 42%
17%
Disagree (1-3) Neutral (4) Agree (5-7)
“I have too much debt right now”
00 Four out of five Americans have at least one of the
six types of debt measured in this study, and over a
quarter have three or more types of debt. More than
two out of five Americans in the NFCS feel that they
have too much debt.
12. Within the past 12 months
13. Within the past 5 years
14. Source: Federal Reserve Bank of New York

In contrast to other measures of financial stress, self-perception of debt does not vary greatly by education
level.
Income
Total
HS or
less
Some
college
College
or more
<$25K $25-75K $75K+
“I have too much debt
right now” (5 to 7 on
7-point scale)
42% 41% 44% 40% 45% 44% 35%
Respondents who feel they have too much debt are much less likely to be satisfied with their personal finances
than those who do not feel they have too much debt (13% vs. 40%, respectively).
A regression analysis was conducted to model self-perception of debt based on the types of debt that
respondents have. The analysis reveals that having unpaid medical bills is the strongest predictor of feeling one
has “too much debt,” followed by carrying a credit card balance and having student loan debt. As the figure
below shows, having past-due medical bills boosts a respondent’s agreement with the statement “I have too
much debt right now” by 1.23 on the 7-point scale. Having an auto loan only boosts agreement by 0.27.15
While having a mortgage or home equity loan may represent the largest share of debt in dollars, it is a
relatively weak predictor of “too much debt.” However, among homeowners, those who have an underwater
mortgage are much more likely than those who do not to agree that they have too much debt (68% vs. 33%).
Individuals with medical bills that are past due may not have intended to incur debt in the way that a mortgage
holder or student loan borrower does. Unpaid medical bills may have been a consequence of difficulties making
ends meet. The same could be said for some holders of credit card debt. However, as the model results above
show, the impact of past due medical bills on self-perceptions of having too much debt is very powerful.
Drivers of “Too Much Debt”
 Regression coefficient
Strongly Strongly
disagree (1) agree (7)
“I have too much debt right now”
15. All six regression coefficients in the model are statistically significant.
Medical debt +1.23
Student loan +0.91
Non-bank borrowing +0.74
Auto loan +0.27
Mortagage/home equity loan +0.31
Credit card debt +1.17
Education

The percentage of respondents who have declared bankruptcy in the past two years has increased slightly from
2.5% in 2009 to 3.5% in 2012. Younger respondents are more likely to have declared bankruptcy.
Age
Total 18-34 35-54 55+
Have declared bankruptcy in the last
two years
3.5% 4.8% 3.5% 2.5%
Credit Reports
Forty-two percent of respondents have checked their credit report in the past 12 months. While checking one’s
credit report is generally accepted as good practice, analysis of the survey data reveals that it is not necessarily
an indicator of positive financial capability, and in some cases, may signify the opposite. Respondents who
have checked their credit reports are somewhat more likely to show signs of difficulty in financial management
than those who have not. As the table below shows, they are more likely to overdraw their checking accounts,
engage in expensive credit card activities and use non-bank borrowing methods. In addition, those who have
checked their credit reports are more likely than those who have not to feel that they have too much debt.
Percent who…
Among respondents who have
checked credit report
Among respondents who have
not checked credit report
Overdraw checking account 24% 20%
Engage in expensive credit card behaviors 44% 38%
Have used non-bank borrowing 33% 28%
Feel they have too much debt 45% 40%

4. Financial Knowledge and Decision-Making
To make sound financial decisions, individuals need to be equipped not only with at least a rudimentary level
of financial knowledge, but also with the skills to apply what they know to actual financial decision-making
situations. As the survey data demonstrate, all too often, a gap exists between self-reported knowledge and
real-world behavior.
Financial Literacy
To evaluate financial knowledge, respondents were exposed to a battery of questions covering fundamental
concepts of economics and finance expressed in everyday life, such as calculations involving interest rates
and inflation, principles relating to risk and diversification, the relationship between bond prices and interest
rates, and the impact that a shorter term can have on total interest payments over the life of a mortgage. As
illustrated in the table below, the survey reveals relatively low levels of financial literacy among Americans.
Correct Incorrect Don’t know
Interest rate question 75% 13% 11%
Inflation question 61% 17% 20%
Bond price question 28% 33% 37%
Mortgage question 75% 9% 15%
Risk question 48% 9% 42%
While the correct response to some individual questions reaches 75%, only 14% of respondents are able to
answer all five questions correctly, and 39% are able to answer at least four questions correctly.
There are considerable demographic differences in financial literacy levels. Males, older respondents, White
and Asian respondents, and those with college or higher education levels are more likely to answer the quiz
questions correctly.
Financial literacy among the young
Young individuals display much lower financial literacy than older individuals.
For example, a question on inflation instructed respondents to assume the
annual interest on a savings account was 1% and that inflation was 2% per year.
Respondents were then asked whether, after one year, they would be able to
buy more than today, exactly the same or less. Fewer than half of respondents
34 and younger were able to answer this question correctly, compared to nearly
two-thirds of those 35-54, and over three quarters of those 55+.
18-34 35-54
Correct answers to
inflation question
55+
42%
64%
76%

Financial literacy is found to be strongly correlated with behavior that is indicative of financial capability.
Specifically, those with higher literacy are more likely to plan for retirement and to have an emergency fund,
and less likely to engage in expensive credit card behaviors.
 Correct  Incorrect  Don’t know
Performance on financial literacy quiz questions # out of five questions
2009 3.0 0.7 1.2
2012 2.9 0.8 1.3
Male 3.2 0.8 1.0
Female 2.6 0.8 1.5
18-34 2.3 1.0 1.6
35-54 2.9 0.8 1.2
55+ 3.3 0.6 1.0
<$25K 2.2 1.0 1.8
$25-75K 2.9 0.8 1.3
$75K+ 3.5 0.6 0.8
White 3.0 0.7 1.2
African-American 2.4 1.1 1.5
Hispanic 2.6 1.0 1.4
Asian 3.2 0.8 1.0
Other 2.7 0.9 1.4

HS or less 2.3 0.9 1.7
Some college 3.0 0.8 1.1
College or more 3.5 0.7 0.8

Self-Perceptions of Financial Knowledge
Despite relatively low levels of financial literacy as measured by the quiz questions, Americans tend to have
positively biased self-perceptions of their financial knowledge. When asked to assess their own financial
knowledge, nearly three-quarters of respondents (73%) gave themselves high marks (5 to 7 on a 7-point scale
where 1=“very low” and 7=“very high”). Self-perceptions of financial knowledge have become more positive
relative to the 67% in 2009 who rated themselves highly.
In contrast, respondents’ performance on the financial literacy quiz questions has declined over the same
period for four out of the five questions, and the average number of correct answers has decreased from
3.0 to 2.9.
78%
75%

76% 75%
65%
61%
53%
48%

28% 28%
Correct answers to financial literacy quiz questions
 2009
 2012
Interest rate Inflation Bond price Mortgage Risk
question question question question question
Because many financial decisions require some knowledge of math, respondents were also asked to evaluate
their math skills. Over three quarters of respondents (76%) gave themselves positive scores (5 to 7 on a 7-point
scale), and 40% gave themselves the highest rating of “7.” But even among respondents who gave themselves
the highest rating, less than two-thirds (64%) are able to do two simple calculations involving interest rates and
inflation.

Self-Perceptions vs. Financial Behavior
The survey data also show a disconnect between self-perceptions and actions in day-to-day financial matters.
When asked how good they are at dealing with day-to-day financial matters (such as managing checking
accounts and credit cards), a large majority of Americans rated themselves positively (76%). However, even
among the 41% of respondents who gave themselves the highest score (7 on a 7-point scale), nearly one-third
(31%) engage in costly credit card behaviors (paying the minimum payment, paying late fees, paying over the
limit fees, or using the card for cash advances), 22% use non-bank borrowing methods and 14% overdraw their
checking account.
Financial Education
The 2012 study included new questions that asked whether respondents had been exposed to financial
education. More than one-quarter of respondents (29%) report having been offered financial education at a
school, college or workplace, and 19% say they participated.
Was financial education offered by a school or college you attended, or a workplace
where you were employed?
Total
Yes, but I did not participate in the financial education offered 10%
Yes, and I did participate in the financial education 19%
No 60%
Don’t know/No answer 11%
Self-perceptions versus financial behavior
“I am good at dealing with day-to-day financial
matters, such as checking accounts, credit and
debit cards and tracking expenses”
Even among the 41% of respondents who gave
themselves the highest score, nearly one-third
(31%) engage in costly credit card behaviors.
41%
Strongly agree
4
13%
Neither agree
nor disagree
2% Don’t know/
No Answer
7
6
22%
5
1-3
13%
9%
Disagree

On the surface, exposure to financial education appears to be associated with performance on the financial
literacy quiz questions. Respondents who stated that they participated in financial education score higher
than those who were offered but did not participate, who in turn score higher than those who were not
offered financial education. It is important to note that these findings do not imply a causal relationship
between financial education and financial literacy, and may be entirely attributable to differences in education,
employment and other demographic factors. This represents a potentially interesting area for further
exploration and analysis of the data.
When asked whether they thought financial education should be taught in schools, an overwhelming majority
of respondents said yes.
Performance on financial literacy quiz questions
 Don’t know
 Incorrect
 Correct
Offered financial education Offered and participated Not offered financial
but did not participate in financial education education
6%
Don’t know/
No answer
5% No
89% Yes
Do you think financial education should be taught in schools?
When asked whether they thought financial
education should be taught in schools, an
overwhelming majority of respondents said yes.
1.1 0.7 1.4
1.0
0.9

0.8
2.9 3.3 2.8
#outoffivequestions

Conclusion
A few years have elapsed since the financial crisis of 2008, the bursting of the housing bubble and the Great
Recession. There are some signs of recovery in this study’s measures of financial capability, but there is also
clear evidence of the medium-term effects of economic shock. More U.S. adults in 2012 are able to pay their
bills without difficulty than in 2009 and more have put aside short-term emergency funds. But fewer have
investments in retirement accounts and more have recently experienced foreclosure or bankruptcy.
Looking ahead, it is concerning that basic financial literacy levels remain so low, because individuals and
families must make many decisions—some more complex than others—that will affect their financial
well-being in both the short-term and long run. The “balance sheet” challenge of managing the burdens of
household debt while also preparing for the financial needs of one’s retirement years can be stressful even for
those who are highly financially capable. This challenge may be especially difficult for the younger generation
of American adults, whom this study shows to be at a pronounced disadvantage on nearly all measures of
financial capability. Ensuring that citizens have access, from an early age, to adequate informational resources,
affordable financial services options and appropriate consumer protections should be a high priority for
policymakers and for society as a whole.
A more financially capable population can result in a larger and more efficient market for financial products,
greater participation in asset building and greater financial stability. It is therefore in everyone’s interest that
action be taken to improve the financial capability of all Americans.
Background and Methodology
In consultation with the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the President’s Advisory Council on Financial
Literacy, the FINRA Investor Education Foundation commissioned the first national study of the financial
capability of American adults in 2009. The overarching research objectives of the National Financial Capability
Study were to benchmark key indicators of financial capability and evaluate how these indicators vary with
underlying demographic, behavioral, attitudinal and financial literacy characteristics.
The 2009 National Financial Capability Study consisted of three linked surveys:
• National Survey: A nationally projectable telephone survey of 1,488 American adults
• State-by-State Survey: A state-by-state online survey of 28,146 American adults
(roughly 500 per state, plus the District of Columbia)
• Military Survey: An online survey of 800 military servicemembers and spouses
00 A more financially capable population can result
in a larger and more efficient market for financial
products, greater participation in asset building and
greater financial stability.

In 2012, a second wave of the NFCS was conducted in order to assess changes in key measures from the 2009
Study and to include additional topics that are highly relevant today. The 2012 NFCS replicates two of the three
components of the original baseline study:
• State-By-State Survey: A state-by-state online survey of 25,509 American adults
(roughly 500 per state, plus the District of Columbia)
• Military Survey: An online survey of 1,000 military servicemembers
The survey instruments were designed by a multi-disciplinary team of researchers, policy makers and
practitioners in the financial capability field. The Studies were funded by the FINRA Investor Education
Foundation and conducted by Applied Research and Consulting.
This report outlines the findings of the 2012 State-by-State Survey administered to respondents between
July and October 2012, with comparisons to the 2009 State-by-State Survey fielded from June to October 2009.
Data from each survey are weighted to be representative of the national population as a whole in terms of
age, gender, ethnicity and education, based on the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. However,
breakdowns of sub-populations may not necessarily be representative.
More information about the National Financial Capability Study, including a detailed methodology document, can
be found at www.USFinancialCapability.org.

Acknowledgements
The FINRA Investor Education Foundation would like to thank Annamaria Lusardi, Chris Bumcrot, Judy Lin and
Tippy Ulicny for their hard work and leadership in constructing the 2012 National Financial Capability Study
questionnaire, analyzing the data and writing this report. The Foundation would also like to thank Louisa
Quittman and Irene Skricki for their valuable input and guidance on the project. In addition, the Foundation
is grateful to the following researchers, practitioners and policy makers, whose effort and thoughtful insight
greatly improved the quality of the Study. Any errors are the responsibility of the FINRA Foundation.
Sam Allgood Bruno Ferman John Phillips
Arty Arteaga Betsy Graham Caroline Ratcliffe
Sudipto Banerjee Diana Hayman Cliff Robb
Nick Bourke Gail Hillebrand David Rogofsky
Patrick Brick Jeanne Hogarth Steven Sass
Jeremy Burke Alex Horowitz Lori Schock
Dwayne Butler Angela Hung Susan Shockey
Pamela Chan David Julian Patricia Seaman
Michael Collins Arie Kapteyn William Skimmyhorn
Craig Copeland Dana Kelly Aaron Sojourner
Brenda Cude Arthur Kennickell Ning Tang
Carlo de Bassa Scheresberg Melissa Knoll Brett Theodos
Judith Dekle Marie-Eve Lachance John Wall
Andia Dinesen Pam McClelland William Walstad
Andrew Egeland Brenda McDaniel Yuko Whitestone
Brent Elrod Signe-Mary McKernan Josh Wright
Keith Ernst Genevieve Melford Joanne Yoong
Susan Offutt

A special thanks to the FINRA Investor Education Foundation Board of Directors for approving funding for this
research and to the following FINRA staff for their time and dedication to the project.
Shari Crawford
Christine Kieffer
Mimi Masse
Gary Mottola
George Smaragdis
Bruce Spates
Michelle Volpe-Kohler
Gerri Walsh

FINRA 2012 Financial Capability

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